Improved rudder



UNITED STATES PATENT Oriaicn.y

JONAS HIGBEE, OF NORTHPORT, NEW YORK.

IMPROVED RUDDER.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,940, dated July 25, 1865.

To all whom fit'may concern:

Be it known that I, J oNAs H1cBEE,of Northport, in the county ot' Suii'olk and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Universal Rudder, and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereoi",which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference heilig had to the accompanying drawing, forming` part ot' Ythis specification.

. The drawing represents a side view of a warvessel (double-enden) with my invention ap' plied to it.

This invention relates to a new and im proved rudder, which may be used either at the bow or stern of the vessel, and is so arranged or applied that it will be capable ot being reversed and used as a stern-rudder, and when not reversed used as a bow-rudder.

The rudder A is of tri-lateral or V form,and has the lowerjournal et' its post B stepped in a prolongation, O, ofthe keel, while the upper part ot' the post has its bearing in the upper part ot' the guard or framing ot' the vessel. Both rudders-there being one represented at each end ofthe vessel in the drawingare precisely alike, and when turned inward tit snugly in recesses or openings a at the ends ot' the vessel. When a bow-rudder is used it is thus adjusted,and when a stern-rudder is used it is reversed or turned out of the recess or opening a.' Both of these adjustments are shown in the drawing.

For sail-vessels I design that the rudder shall be used at the stern like any ordinary one. It possesses the advantage over those hitherto devised and used in having an open space behind it for the water to pass through, which renders the rudder far more efficient than usual.

For ferry-boats I propose to use the bow instead ot1 the stern rudder, the latter being secured in an inward position by any suitable fastening. The boat can be turned in halt' the space with the bow-rudder, and it acts much more efficiently, in consequence of the water at the bow not being in such a confused state as it is at the stern, especially when the water is shoal.

I ani awaregthat rudders for`,vessels have been constructed ot' a form similar to mine and placed at the bow; but they have not been so applied as to be capa-ble of being reversed, (turned outward,) so as to operate at either end.

I claim, therefore, as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The applying ot' rudders to vessels, either at the bow or stern, or at both said places, in the manner substantially as shown, so that the rudders will be capableot'bein g reversed,turned outward from the recess or openings a, when necessary, as when used as a stern-rudder, or turned inward, so as to t in said openings when used as albow-rudder, as set forth.

JoNAs HTGBEE.

Witnesses M. M. LIVINGSTON, C. L. ToPLIFF. 

